3 ½ Minutes – A Documentary Film About The Death Of Jordan Davis

At Sundance, the premier independent film festival, the documentary titled 3 ½ Minutes will take the screen in Utah. Minette Nelson wanted to document a story that would continue the discussion on race and gun violence with a focus on Florida, but she wanted a story that was not as well-known as the Trayvon Martin story. Her son told her about Jordan Davis. She read everything she could about the killing and mailed Ron Davis, Jordan’s father, in April 2013.

“My letter stated that I felt that Jordan’s case could be exemplary of what is wrong with post-racial society in America and that Jordan was no different from my son. Thirdly, that if there had been no gun in the equation, Jordan would’ve gone home safely to his bed that night.”

The 2013 festival’s award for best cinematography went to Marc Silver for the film, “Who Is Dayani Cristal?” Marc Singer directed “3 ½ Minutes.” He has a promotion for the film on his website.

Jordan’s parents, Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, were filmed. They filmed Jordan’s grave in Atlanta, a march in Washington, D.C., and when Lucia addressed the U.S. Congress. The crew was present and filmed at both of Michael Dunn’s trials. In his first trial, Michael Dunn was convicted on three counts of 2nd degree attempted murder, but the jury hung on the murder charge. At his second trial, Michael Dun was convicted of 1st degree murder in the death of Jordan Davis. He was sentenced to life without parole.

Minette Nelson, the film’s producer, said she chose Jordan Davis’ story because his life felt similar to her son’s. “I said this to Ron when we first met him,” Nelson said, “but for the color of his skin, Jordan was no different from my son.”

Orlando Bagwell is the Executive Producer. His 6 minute Op-Doc, titled “When Loud Music Turned Deadly” is embedded below. It has home videos of Jordan as an infant with his mom, and Ron Davis sharing information, such as why he gave his son the name Jordan.

WHAT?!? When will people learn that they cannot use a gun to resolve problems just because they don’t like what someone is doing? Texting in a movie theater, loud music, walking in the rain wearing a hoodie. People who pull guns because of that should take the first space shuttle to another planet and establish their own, lonely, controlling world.

WTH???
If they don’t do something about these idiots being able to get guns so freely and carry them in their car or pocket, we’re going to see a hell of a lot of this.
I remember if you were carrying a gun you were arrested. NOW, it’s oh, hell, I’m going to get to shoot someone.
This is nuts!!!
Don’t they realize that MORE people are crazy than not?
And I don’t care what they say guns and people out of control don’t mix.
They need to stop it already!
When are we going to get our horses and buggies?
This IS stupid!!

You know, I say all of the time, the NRA runs and terrifies this country.
We don’t need to leave it to find terroism
With them, the KKK and the WS, and racism we have a boat load of it right here.
Look it takes a handfull of mean, bad cops to run over the good ones.
Something is just wrong here.
It’s messed up!
I nominate you for VP! : )

WOW! unbelievable again some punk drugged up idiot wannabe murderer had the nerve to tell another person what to do in their own car! who does that????? who actually does that????

i’m never going to get my head around the mentality of someone who thinks he can dictate another man’s music, a perfect stranger!! telling a perfect stranger to turn his music down- a grown man this time, not even a kid. i’m always shocked at these idiots with guns attitude of authority over black ppl.

I think its time for a public service announcement, literally. because these Zimmermans and Dunns are serious threats to public safety. everyone w/in the shooting distance is a possible victim of these morons with gun muscles!

Hey all you ignorant, bitter, miserable white & Peruvian males slobs,
YOU ARE NOT IN CHARGE OF ANYONE BUT YOURSELF, AND YOU ALREADY SUCK AT THAT.
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL STRANGERS WHERE THEY MAY WALK OR TO TURN THEIR OWN MUSIC DOWN.
DISPITE THE FEELINGS OF AUTHORITY A GUN GIVES YOU, THE LAWS THAT WRONGLY ALLOW YOU TO CARRY DO NOT GRANT YOU AUTHORITY OVER ANYONE.
IF YOU EVEN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT TELLING A BLACK MAN OR CHILD TO DO SOMETHING, STOP.
INSTEAD JUST STFU & GTFOH.
BECAUSE ONE OF THESE DAYS, INSTEAD OF BEING THE ONLY ONE WITH A GUN, YOU’LL BE THE ONLY ONE WITH THE BULLET HOLE. TRUST ME.

Things are really out of hand with conceal carry and killing because of personal dislikes. Let’s not forget that a man lost his life for texting in a movie theater. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that a man would find it necessary to go grocery shopping with a gun when he alleges that it was his gated community neighborhood that had crime.

And, why would Osterman tell him to carry his gun at all times to keep it away from the children, when he and Shellie have no children? What children? Where was he keeping it while he was at work? I know — questions with no answers.

Heartbreaking. It’s just so bad that the key word is “perceived” How can the 2 cases be handled so differently ? Fogen even admitted he was stalking Trayvon. In the real world, no weapon was found on the victim or that the victim used……….and bullshit to the armed with deadly hands, concrete or an imaginary stick.

Racer, I lost count of the number of times that I’ve cried thinking about those young lives snuffed out by angry men. There was a time when I had to check out my own heart because I didn’t feel real disgust towards Ted Wafer but actually had a measure of pity for him. Then it came to me. Ted Wafer did not bear false witness against Renisha McBride. He lied, but he lied about his own actions and reasons. He didn’t accuse Renisha of threatening him, or having a weapon in her hand, or using 1970’s slang. On the other hand, Zimmerman and Dunn bore false witness against their victims. That makes their reasons for pulling the trigger totally inhuman.

Two sides, there is at least one documentary that was in the works about Trayvon. There might not be an effort to complete and have it distributed until the final say happens with the DOJ investigation.

Yeah Two sides, just imagine — 10 minutes of the film dedicated to all the encounters with the law after Zimmerman was acquitted. Maybe by then there will be enough mugshots of him to complete a calendar. 🙂

What a beautiful, precious individual Jordan was. A loving son with loving parents. I so enjoyed seeing the home movies of Jordan growing up.

His dad makes the aching observation that “Jordan thought he was safe in America.” It was painful to hear that knowing that Jordan had his life horrifically taken from him because a rage-filled Dunn did not like the loud music.

You know, I wish such videos could be presented to the public before the defense attorneys, the shooter, and other detractors have a chance to defame and falsely “thugify” their clients’ victims.

That is such an awesome idea- videos of the victim before the killer &co vilify them. but then I remember xena telling me a long time ago, that the victim is not on trial,
they don’t need to defend themselves! isn’t that some BS??@!! because I remember thinking of course, that makes perfect sense or THEY WOULDN’T BE the VICTIM, they’d be the DEFENDANT!

that’s true technically but things have changed. the media & the legal profession seem to be devolving into game show like entertainment sources. the ones who used to respect & speak for the victims aren’t really doing that in certain cases.
victims aren’t treated as victims. but in order for a dead victim to have a fair chance at justice they gotta be the victim.

Maybe we need a sort of special victim’s defense team who can speak out on the victim’s behalf and counter attack the killer’s allegations.
look at cases like Mike Brown & Trayvon where racist character assassination is used as a defense for murder, literally.
it seems anything goes, even fantastic stories of dead teenagers with super human strength and magical powers.